Training for journalists within the Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness

The training for mass media representatives took place in Kyiv on March 30-31, 2012 within the Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness being implemented by Ukrainian Women's Fund.

First Step to Success Program participants Gurnytska Evelina and Tarkaniy Hanna were invited to take part in this two days' event. 

«Training on such topic is necessary for journalists, as to some extent it depends on the m, whether a woman would visit a doctor timely. Especially because journalists often make mistakes in writing materials on such delicate topic. And in general, particualrly journalists partially perform the function of popularizing healthy life style.

The training was interesting, comprehensible, full of information. Professional level of presenters was high, topics were interesting for us both as journalists and as women.

The most interesting in this event was its practical aspect. Particularly, stories of survivors. I think they are the very persons who can tell everything TRULY. But I should mention that so-called theoretical aspect from practicing doctors is also necessary and really interesting. Besides, I learned a lot as practicing journalist. I mean writing informational message, which we did in teams. Team work is always a valuable experience. Besides, I remembered certain rules of writing media mterials.  

During these two days we got acquainted with new people we are going to collaborate with in future. I believe that together we would be able to do something for Ukrainian women to preserve their health»

Evelina Gurnytska

Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness was initiated by Susan G.Komen for the Cure and has been implemented in Ukraine in collaboration with Ukrainian Women's Fund since 2007. The primary goal of the initiative is to create a dynamic global network of dedicated activists with the skills, knowledge and vision to play a strategic role in shaping their country’s response to the breast cancer crisis

For more than 4 years of the Program's work it has involved specialists from different spheres - representatives of non-goverbnmental organizations, health care providers, teachers, students, representatives of business and mass media – from diferent places of Ukraine: Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Cherkasy and Lutsk, who had opportunity to apply acquired knowledge in advocacy, fundraising, medical education, volunteering and community needs analysis, as well as implement project initiatives aimed at raising women's awareness of breast cancer in local communities.